Chapter 22
Humans and the Environment
Table of Contents
Section 1 An Interconnected Planet
Section 2 Environmental Issues
Section 3 Environmental Solutions
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Chapter 22
Section 1 An Interconnected Planet
Objectives
• Explain the importance of the study of environmental
science.
• Describe Earth’s major layers.
• Explain the natural functions of the ozone layer and
greenhouse effect.
• Summarize the ways in which biologists measure
biodiversity.
• Discuss the value of biodiversity.
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Chapter 22
Section 1 An Interconnected Planet
Earth’s Layers
• Earth’s geosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere
are interconnected in many ways.
• Together, these parts make up the biosphere, the
part of the Earth where life exists.
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Chapter 22
Section 1 An Interconnected Planet
Earth’s Layers, continued
• Atmosphere
– Important parts of the atmosphere are greenhouse
gases, which trap heat on Earth, and the ozone
layer, which shields Earth from UV radiation.
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Chapter 22
Section 1 An Interconnected Planet
Earth’s Layers, continued
• Climate and Atmosphere
– The atmosphere’s ability to trap heat in this way is
called the greenhouse effect.
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Chapter 22
Section 1 An Interconnected Planet
The Greenhouse Effect
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Chapter 22
Section 1 An Interconnected Planet
Earth’s Layers, continued
• Hydrosphere
– A very small portion of the hydrosphere is fresh
water, and much of this fresh water is not easily
usable.
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Chapter 22
Section 1 An Interconnected Planet
Earth’s Layers, continued
• Geosphere
– The geosphere exchanges materials with the
atmosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere.
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Chapter 22
Section 1 An Interconnected Planet
Earth’s Layers, continued
• Biosphere
– The biosphere includes all parts of Earth where
life exists.
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Chapter 22
Section 1 An Interconnected Planet
Biodiversity
• Biodiversity refers to the variety of life found in an
area.
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Chapter 22
Section 1 An Interconnected Planet
Biodiversity, continued
• Measuring Biodiversity
– Biodiversity can be measured in different ways,
including by species richness, species
evenness, and genetic diversity.
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Chapter 22
Section 1 An Interconnected Planet
Biodiversity, continued
• Valuing Biodiversity
– Biodiversity is valued for various reasons.
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Chapter 22
Section 2 Environmental Issues
Objectives
• Describe major consequences of air pollution.
• Relate air pollution to effects on global climate.
• Describe how chemical pollutants may undergo the process of
biological magnification.
• Identify the primary causes of modern extinctions.
• Explain why extinctions and ecosystem disruption are of
concern to humans.
• Relate human resource use to its impacts on ecosystems.
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Chapter 22
Section 2 Environmental Issues
Pollution
• Over a short time period, human activities have
affected global ecosystems in ways that harm
humans and other species.
• Human impacts range from local pollution to global
change in ecosystems.
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Chapter 22
Section 2 Environmental Issues
Pollution, continued
• Ozone Thinning
– Industrial chemicals called chlorofluorocarbons
(CFCs) act as catalysts in chemical reactions that
break down O3 molecules in the ozone layer.
– Most countries have banned CFCs, and the ozone
layer seems to be recovering.
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Chapter 22
Section 2 Environmental Issues
Ozone “Hole” Over Antarctica
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Chapter 22
Section 2 Environmental Issues
Pollution, continued
• Global Warming
– The correlation of increasing atmospheric CO2 and
rising global temperature suggests a cause-andeffect relationship.
– Considering several types of evidence, many
scientists have concluded that increased CO2
levels have caused warmer surface temperatures
on Earth.
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Chapter 22
Section 2 Environmental Issues
Pollution, continued
• Acid Precipitation
– Certain air pollutants cause acid precipitation,
which harms or kills many organisms.
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Chapter 22
Section 2 Environmental Issues
Acid Precipitation
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Chapter 22
Section 2 Environmental Issues
Pollution, continued
• Land and Water Pollution
– The release of toxic chemicals, such as DDT, into
the biosphere can impact ecosystems in many
ways, especially when chemicals undergo
biological magnification.
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Chapter 22
Section 2 Environmental Issues
Biological
Magnification of
DDT
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Chapter 22
Section 2 Environmental Issues
Ecosystem Disruption, continued
• Extinction
– Human impacts on the environment are causing
an increasing number of extinctions.
– Important causes of extinctions are habitat
destruction, the transfer of invasive species to new
habitats, harvesting, and hunting.
– This loss of species has both known and unknown
effects on ecosystems.
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Chapter 22
Section 2 Environmental Issues
Ecosystem Disruption, continued
• Ecosystem Imbalances
– Species such as the sea otter that affect many
other species in a community are called keystone
species.
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Chapter 22
Section 2 Environmental Issues
Human Resource Use
• Current levels of human resource use are probably
not sustainable.
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Chapter 22
Section 2 Environmental Issues
World Population
Growth Patterns
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Chapter 22
Section 3 Environmental Solutions
Objectives
• State the goals of conservation and restoration biology.
• Describe examples of efforts to protect species and their
habitats.
• Summarize international strategies for protecting entire
ecosystems.
• Discuss the roles of governments and laws in addressing
environmental problems.
• List several things that individuals can do to help solve
environmental problems.
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Chapter 22
Section 3 Environmental Solutions
Conservation and Restoration Biology
• Conservation biologists are concerned with
identifying and maintaining ecosystems, while
restoration biologists are usually involved with
repairing badly damaged ecosystems.
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Chapter 22
Section 3 Environmental Solutions
Conservation and Restoration Biology,
continued
• Species and Habitats
– A bioindicator is a species that is especially
sensitive to ecological change.
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Chapter 22
Section 3 Environmental Solutions
Conservation and Restoration Biology,
continued
• Case Study: Saving the Whooping Crane
– Populations of many migratory birds, such as the
whooping crane, are in decline because of human
activities.
– However, some populations are recovering as a
result of legal protection, breeding programs,
habitat restoration, and international partnerships.
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Chapter 22
Section 3 Environmental Solutions
Protecting Ecosystems
• Biodiversity Hotspots
– International and cooperative efforts to preserve
habitat and prevent extinctions include identifying
biodiversity hotspots, making debt-for-nature
swaps, and promoting ecotourism.
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Chapter 22
Section 3 Environmental Solutions
Governments and Laws
• Environmental problems can be addressed through
the efforts of governments and laws.
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Chapter 22
Section 3 Environmental Solutions
Private Efforts and Cooperation
• Environmental problems can be addressed through
the combined efforts of governments, scientists,
businesses, and individuals.
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Chapter 22
Section 3 Environmental Solutions
Conservation Case Study: The Everglades
• The Everglades restoration project is the most
ambitious ecosystem-wide restoration project
attempted in the United States.
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Chapter 22
Section 3 Environmental Solutions
Your Role in the Environment
• No one can predict our environment’s future, but it is
clear that individuals can make a difference in its fate.
• Thus, it is important for you, as an individual, to
understand your role in the environment and to take
responsibility for that role.
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Chapter 22
Section 3 Environmental Solutions
Recycling
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Chapter 22
Standardized Test Prep
Multiple Choice
1. Which of the following is the term for the parts of
Earth where water is located?
A. biosphere
B. geosphere
C. atmosphere
D. hydrosphere
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Chapter 22
Standardized Test Prep
Multiple Choice, continued
1. Which of the following is the term for the parts of
Earth where water is located?
A. biosphere
B. geosphere
C. atmosphere
D. hydrosphere
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Chapter 22
Standardized Test Prep
Multiple Choice, continued
2. What is the term for the natural ability of Earth’s
atmosphere to trap energy from the sun?
F. global warming
G. ozone depletion
H. greenhouse effect
J. biological magnification
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Chapter 22
Standardized Test Prep
Multiple Choice, continued
2. What is the term for the natural ability of Earth’s
atmosphere to trap energy from the sun?
F. global warming
G. ozone depletion
H. greenhouse effect
J. biological magnification
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Chapter 22
Standardized Test Prep
Multiple Choice, continued
3. What does Earth’s ozone layer shield its inhabitants
from?
A. solar heating
B. meteor impacts
C. ozone depletion
D. ultraviolet radiation
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Chapter 22
Standardized Test Prep
Multiple Choice, continued
3. What does Earth’s ozone layer shield its inhabitants
from?
A. solar heating
B. meteor impacts
C. ozone depletion
D. ultraviolet radiation
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Chapter 22
Standardized Test Prep
Multiple Choice, continued
4. Which of the following groups of organisms contains
the largest estimated number of species?
F. birds
G. plants
H. insects
J. mammals
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Chapter 22
Standardized Test Prep
Multiple Choice, continued
4. Which of the following groups of organisms contains
the largest estimated number of species?
F. birds
G. plants
H. insects
J. mammals
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Chapter 22
Standardized Test Prep
Multiple Choice, continued
5. What term describes a measure of the number of
species in an area?
A. species richness
B. species evenness
C. bioindicator species
D. biological magnification
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Chapter 22
Standardized Test Prep
Multiple Choice, continued
5. What term describes a measure of the number of
species in an area?
A. species richness
B. species evenness
C. bioindicator species
D. biological magnification
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Chapter 22
Standardized Test Prep
Multiple Choice, continued
Use the graph below to answer question 6. The
graph below shows trends in two global
measurements over several decades.
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Chapter 22
Standardized Test Prep
Multiple Choice, continued
6. What is the term commonly used to describe the
trend shown in this graph?
F. water pollution
G. global warming
H. ozone depletion
J. biodiversity crisis
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Chapter 22
Standardized Test Prep
Multiple Choice, continued
6. What is the term commonly used to describe the
trend shown in this graph?
F. water pollution
G. global warming
H. ozone depletion
J. biodiversity crisis
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Chapter 22
Standardized Test Prep
Multiple Choice, continued
Complete the following analogy:
7. thinning of ozone layer : chlorofluorocarbons ::
biological magnification :
A. pesticides
B. wastewater
C. carbon dioxide
D. greenhouse gases
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Chapter 22
Standardized Test Prep
Multiple Choice, continued
Complete the following analogy:
7. thinning of ozone layer : chlorofluorocarbons ::
biological magnification :
A. pesticides
B. wastewater
C. carbon dioxide
D. greenhouse gases
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Chapter 22
Standardized Test Prep
Multiple Choice, continued
Use the table below to answer question 8. The
table below compares the measurements of two
environmental factors for the populations of three
countries.
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Chapter 22
Standardized Test Prep
Multiple Choice, continued
8. Which country produces the greatest amount of
garbage per square mile?
F. Japan
G. Indonesia
H. United States
J. They all produce the same amounts.
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Chapter 22
Standardized Test Prep
Multiple Choice, continued
8. Which country produces the greatest amount of
garbage per square mile?
F. Japan
G. Indonesia
H. United States
J. They all produce the same amounts.
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Chapter 22
Standardized Test Prep
Short Response
The term biodiversity can be used in several ways.
Explain two measures of biodiversity.
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Chapter 22
Standardized Test Prep
Short Response, continued
The term biodiversity can be used in several ways.
Explain two measures of biodiversity.
Answer: There are two measures of biodiversity. The
first measure is species diversity and the second is
genetic diversity. Species diversity measures the
number of unique species within an area, or species
richness, and the relative number of individuals of
each species in an area, or species evenness. The
genetic diversity measures the amount of genetic
differences that exist within a population.
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Chapter 22
Standardized Test Prep
Extended Response
Base your answers to parts A & B on the information below.
Imagine that your local government has asked for citizen input
to plan for the future use of a currently roadless area that is
near a body of water. Some citizens would like a new mall
to be built there, and some citizens would like the area to be
made into a public park.
Part A Make a table of the possible problems or benefits that
could result from each option.
Part B Write a letter to the local government that expresses
your opinion about this issue and explains your reasons for
that opinion.
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Chapter 22
Standardized Test Prep
Extended Response, continued
Answer:
Part A Answers may vary, but should be
presented in the form of a table. The table
should compare possible problems and
benefits that might result from each decision
option.
Part B Answers may vary, but should be
presented in the form of a letter. The letter
should clearly advocate for one option and
support each point with factual information
and/or examples that were listed in part A.
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